to Squaw Butte Creek.[1] After crossing the creek we came to a party of mountaineers from the Black's Fork of Green River. They had stopped for dinner. Had several pack horses packed with furs belonging to Mr. Vasques, who treated us very hospitably. We found with Mr. Vasques and his party, two men returning from Oregon, very bad account of that country. They also had letters, to some of our company, which differed very much from their verbal account. We traveled to-day about twelve miles. Childs' company of five wagons left our company and went on to the crossing of North Fork.
Friday, July 21.—Left Squaw Butte Creek, traveled fifteen miles and camped on the Platte. I mount as sergeant of the guard.
Saturday, July 22.—Trailed six miles and camped on the Platte about noon, and endeavored to find a ford. Several men sick in camp, afflicted with a kind of fever. The company discontented and strong symptoms of mutiny. Some anxious to travel faster, some slower, some want to cross the river here, some want to go ahead, and others want to go any way but the right way. This will always be the difficulty with heterogeneous masses of emigrants crossing these plains. While every man's will is his law, and lets him act or do as he pleases, he will always find friends to support him. In order to obviate this difficulty and maintain good order in large companies, the presence of military force, and a declaration of martial law is highly necessary. Then emigrants will travel in peace, harmony and good order. They have the elements of their own destruction within themselves.
Sunday, July 23.—This is my birthday, being twenty-three years of age, and upwards of 3,000 miles West of the place of my birth. The company got under way. Edwin Otey and myself struck out toward a large mountain South in quest of game. I shot an antelope and returned to the
- ↑ Cf. Quarterly for December, 1900, page 402.
